Dream scenarios: What Thunder could offer Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo and still be dominant

At 24–1, the Oklahoma City Thunder own the league’s best record and a near-unbeatable two-way profile. They’ve become a rarity: a young powerhouse with the flexibility of a rebuilding team. And with uncertainty surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long-term future with the Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City is the team best positioned to act if the Bucks ever pivot toward trade discussions.

Will a trade of Giannis to OKC happen before the Feb. 6 deadline? Almost certainly not. But the fact it could make a competitive offer for Giannis, 31, and still have enough assets left to remain elite underscores the masterful job GM Sam Presti has done building this roster.

Recent conversations inside Milwaukee (10-15) about their direction, coupled with three straight first-round exits, Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury and departure and an 11–15 start, have led to rising frustration in the organization. League observers increasingly wonder whether a reset could enter the realm of possibility if the season doesn’t stabilize quickly. One source told ESPN the “writing is on the wall” for a potential change of scenery for Giannis if Milwaukee doesn’t turn things around quickly.

For Oklahoma City, that sliver of uncertainty represents a once-in-a-generation opening.

Even with just one loss, with an MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising stars in Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, the Thunder hold the league’s deepest draft arsenal and most flexible mid-tier salaries. They can construct two distinctly powerful types of Giannis offers: one built around premium external picks, the other around OKC’s own long-term control — all without touching the core.

So, let’s dream.

Option 1: The 'max draft haul' package: Using other teams’ picks while preserving all OKC firsts

If Milwaukee opts for a reset centered on upside and optionality, Oklahoma City can overwhelm the market by offering the most attractive non-Thunder picks available. This allows OKC to keep all of its own firsts, a luxury no other contender can offer.

A representative package:

• 2026 Philadelphia 1st (protected 1–4)
  
• 2026 Utah 1st (protected 1–8)
  
• 2027 Denver 1st (protected 1–5)
  
• 2027 Spurs 1st (protected 1–16)
  
• 2028 Dallas swap rights
  
• 2028 Milwaukee 2nd
  
• Additional seconds as needed

These are premium picks with legitimate upside — the kind that teams rebuilding around a superstar departure covet. The salary-matching component is straightforward, and more importantly, OKC would retain every future first of its own.

That long-term stability is the Thunder’s true competitive advantage.

Option 2: The 'own your timeline' package: Using OKC’s firsts while preserving select premium picks

If the Bucks prioritize secure, guaranteed long-term control of the Thunder’s draft years, Oklahoma City can shift to a second path.

This framework could include:

• 2029 OKC 1st (own)
• 2030 OKC 1st (own)
• 2031 OKC 1st (own)
• Plus one premium external pick (Utah 2026 or Denver 2027)
• A selection of second-rounders

This approach still gives Milwaukee a meaningful haul while allowing OKC to keep a few of its most valuable acquired picks for future maneuvering. It also ties Milwaukee’s rebuild directly to OKC’s fortunes. That's a compelling structure for a franchise seeking multi-season control after losing an MVP.

Why OKC stands alone, even without adding Giannis

The Thunder aren’t a team desperate for a shakeup; they’re a juggernaut. A 24–1 start, the NBA’s top net rating (by far) and a core that has yet to reach its collective prime mean Giannis wouldn’t be dragged into uncertainty. He would be stepping directly into a championship window.

Holmgren’s spacing and rim protection amplifies the best version of Giannis’ downhill dominance. Williams adds slashing and shot creation. Gilgeous-Alexander remains a top-five player who draws defensive attention that Giannis has never seen alongside him in Milwaukee. Oklahoma City would instantly possess the most physically overwhelming duo in the sport and a top-four nucleus reminiscent of the dynasty Warriors.

And because of the quality of their role players and the value of their incoming picks, the Thunder could still make future moves or maintain depth — something no other Giannis suitor can credibly claim.

A Giannis Antetokounmpo trade isn't fantasy

The reporting is clear: Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are actively discussing his future. This isn’t Knicks rumors. This isn’t offseason noise. The conversations are happening inside the organization.

If Milwaukee decides the moment has arrived to explore the market, Oklahoma City has two ready-made, overwhelming pathways to a deal, both keeping its juggernaut intact. These are dream scenarios, but what grand dreams they are.